Have You Used a Car Seat Lately? Is it #TheRightSeat?

As new grandparents, we face many trials – becoming car-seat competent may be one of the most challenging. Using proper car safety seats is one of the most important factors in driving safely with grandchildren. It isn’t like we haven’t used a car seat before, right? But for most of us, it has been a long time. And as we all know, things change with time!

The statistic that every 33 seconds, a child under 13 is involved in a car crash in the United States is sobering. Car seats, if used correctly, can dramatically reduce the risk of death or injury. But over half of car seats are either installed or used incorrectly, and 1 in 3 children killed in car crashes are completely unrestrained at the time of the crash.

As parents and grandparents, we all want to do the right thing to keep our children safe and sound. That’s why it’s helpful to stay up to date with car seat safety information, like the tips found in the fun new video series “The Wide World of Car Seats,” from the Ad Council and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The right car seat can make all the difference in a motor vehicle crash. And car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old. But despite their best intentions, many parents may not realize their child isn’t in the right seat. For example, many parents move their children to the next restraint type (car seat, booster seat, seat belt) too soon.

It is easy to be confused by which car seat your child or grandchild needs to be in as they change in age and in weight. And another challenge is making sure the car seat is also installed correctly. Because you may have the right one, but your child or grandchild isn’t really safe unless it is installed properly.

If you are confused about how a seat is installed and if it is installed correctly, you can have it checked and triple-checked by a certified child passenger safety technician! I’m grateful for resources like SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat with videos about how to install car seats correctly and how to make sure we have the right seat.

Mother of two active almost-grown-up teenagers, living in Arkansas with her Husband, she and her family are energetic outdoor enthusiasts. They can be found Camping, Hiking, Kayaking, and always finding new ways to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. A country girl at heart, but living in the middle of town, she has found creative ways to make the best of both worlds. Founder of www.thatsjustlife.com and contributing author of The Mom Quilt and The Mom Village, she writes and blogs about food, family, working from home, and their many adventures.